Five Stick Friday (2025)

15/06/2024

I recently finished watching “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV. I’m not sure why I put this off so long. Maybe because I’ve never been a fan of European soccer, maybe because I just wasn’t sure how Jason Sudeikis was going to pull off the role, or maybe it’s just part of my semi-rebellious nature to not watch what everyone else is watching while they’re watching it....

I recently finished watching “Ted Lasso” on Apple TV. I’m not sure why I put this off so long. Maybe because I’ve never been a fan of European soccer, maybe because I just wasn’t sure how Jason Sud…

14/03/2024

This won’t be a long post. But I’ve always loved a good redemption story. I’ve always enjoyed his career and thought he was an amazing actor. And I have to admit I lost track of him while I was in college and starting my career. But I do remember reading about his problems, his trips to rehab, and wondering if he was going to right the ship....

This won’t be a long post. But I’ve always loved a good redemption story. I’ve always enjoyed his career and thought he was an amazing actor. And I have to admit I lost track of him while I was in …

13/03/2024

Last night Erin’s boyfriend mentioned a short film that was mentioned several times in the Academy Awards Ceremony on Sunday night… and that he thought I would enjoy it… The title is “The Last Repair Shop”, and is evidently about a group of instrument repair technicians in Los Angeles that have been repairing instruments for public school students since 1959. …...

Last night Erin’s boyfriend mentioned a short film that was mentioned several times in the Academy Awards Ceremony on Sunday night… and that he thought I would enjoy it… The title is “The Last Repa…

23/02/2024

42 years ago yesterday, one of the most unlikely things in Sports History ever transpired. The United States Hockey Team, stitched together from college players by' coach Herb Brooks, defeated the Russian team in the 1980 Winter Olympics. I was 16 years old, and on a Church Retreat at Epworth By The Sea near St. Simons Island, GA. I'm not sure I realized back then exactly what had transpired....

42 years ago yesterday, one of the most unlikely things in Sports History ever transpired. The United States Hockey Team, stitched together from college players by’ coach Herb Brooks, defeate…

22/02/2024

I woke up this morning reflecting. We're now in the 9th day of Lent and I've held true to my "no public social media activity" promise. It's actually been cathartic. Here's some things I've realized over the last nine days. 1. Social Media is kinda cool...but it's all just a bunch of people speaking into the ether. Without ever knowing much about who's reading, who cares ( if anyone), and whether their words are just lost into oblivion....

I woke up this morning reflecting. We’re now in the 9th day of Lent and I’ve held true to my “no public social media activity” promise. It’s actually been cathartic. H…

19/02/2024

Well, rather spontaneously, I decided this past "Ash Wednesday" to take lent seriously this year and "remove a distraction" during the Easter season this year...and that distraction will be actively posting on Social Media Platforms. So...from February 14th through Easter, approximately 45 days, I'm walking into an unannounced "social media blackout"...other than typing thoughts here, in my personal blog. 6 days in and so far so good....

Well, rather spontaneously, I decided this past “Ash Wednesday” to take lent seriously this year and “remove a distraction” during the Easter season this year…and that…

12/02/2024

I can remember a million years ago, Laurie and I went to Cancun on vacation with some dear friends. In spite of some weather issues and a time share salesman that seemed determined to ruin our time there, we made a lot of memories. One of those memories was (possibly) an ill-advised "booze cruise" out to an island for an awesome beach party dinner....

I can remember a million years ago, Laurie and I went to Cancun on vacation with some dear friends. In spite of some weather issues and a time share salesman that seemed determined to ruin our time…

03/01/2024

So, I’ve decided to change my approach to social media use in 2024, and better employ this blog I launched last year to journal thoughts rather than the day to day banter on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. And with that, while battling insomnia last night, I cued up the movie “NYAD” last night with zero knowledge of the subject matter. If you’ve not seen and plan to, file this entry away for future reading as it’s next to impossible to discuss the impact of the movie without spoilers....

So, I’ve decided to change my approach to social media use in 2024, and better employ this blog I launched last year to journal thoughts rather than the day to day banter on Facebook, Instagram, Tw…

16/06/2023

My Dad passed away in late September of 2007. That's fifteen years and some change ago. I was at an Upward Football Game with my son Davis when I got the call. It was a beautiful Fall day outside...I remember my first thought being "Well...you picked a good day to travel, Dad". And since that first thought, I've had all kinds of thoughts, memories, replaying of moments throughout my life that involved him....

My Dad passed away in late September of 2007. That’s fifteen years and some change ago. I was at an Upward Football Game with my son Davis when I got the call. It was a beautiful Fall day out…

14/05/2023

Well, me being me, I've managed to write these "season" narratives out of order, and still have some scattered, smothered, and covered organization in my approach. But hey...it is what it is. If you're new to my rambling though about my season(s) of time with DFUMC...here's the catchup... Season 1 - 1979-1981 "The Beginning"Season 2 - 1990-1994 "The Return" - still under construction…...

Well, me being me, I’ve managed to write these “season” narratives out of order, and still have some scattered, smothered, and covered organization in my approach. But hey…i…

11/05/2023

I promise as I continue to drone on about my different seasons of time at Dalton Firtst United Methodist, that there is culimnation of these ramblings regarding just being absolutely overwhelmed with joy and emoition last Sunday seeing old friends and listening to Dr. Steven Usry usher in a new season for the entire church. It means a lot to me....

I promise as I continue to drone on about my different seasons of time at Dalton Firtst United Methodist, that there is culimnation of these ramblings regarding just being absolutely overwhelmed wi…

08/05/2023

Wow. Just wow. I've just come back from Dalton First United Methodist Church's first worship gathering with new Senior Pastor Steve Usry. And I'm just emotionally exhausted...in a really good way. I thought all the way home about how to express what's in my heart without writing a thome. And I've already failed at three takes because the words just begin to flow out of my heart, through my fingers, and onto the screen with blinding speed, but unfortunately little "organization" or logical form....

Wow. Just wow. I’ve just come back from Dalton First United Methodist Church’s first worship gathering with new Senior Pastor Steve Usry. And I’m just emotionally exhausted……

02/05/2023

One of the things that fascinates me the most about the teachings of Jesus Christ is the use of parables. One could surmise that Jesus might not have really trusted our intellect a whole bunch, because He regularly chose to break down his teaching with quippy little stories to get His point across. For instance, He told a parable of a wise and foolish man who set out to build their homes....

One of the things that fascinates me the most about the teachings of Jesus Christ is the use of parables. One could surmise that Jesus might not have really trusted our intellect a whole bunch, bec…

28/04/2023

I just prepped another whole chicken for the grill tonight. And in the process I ended up with a fresh chicken liver on my cutting board. It’s so weird how just seeing it caused a transport back in time. When I was 12 years old, I hiked about a half mile from our home in Rocky Face to a neighborhood pond to fish almost every afternoon after school....

I just prepped another whole chicken for the grill tonight. And in the process I ended up with a fresh chicken liver on my cutting board. It’s so weird how just seeing it caused a transport back in…

27/04/2023

As I head to bed after having my kids home for a couple of days...I'm reflecting on the whole "impomptu singing session" that was prompted by Erin buying a chart and throwing out the idea to start with. And then all of us enjoying kitchen table time reading it over, etc. But upon reflection, I'm really struck that it's the first time I've really got to see my son…...

As I head to bed after having my kids home for a couple of days…I’m reflecting on the whole “impomptu singing session” that was prompted by Erin buying a chart and throwing …

26/04/2023

Kinda funny that the initial Tucker announcement was that he and Fox News “decided to part ways”. That’s white supremacist bowtie wearing Putin loving code for “My ass got fired with 10 minutes notice before the Media found out”. After Abby Grossberger’s revelations yesterday, and Smartmatic on deck, and then putting Steve Doocy’s yuckster Brian Kilmeade on last night in Tucker’s slot… much to the chagrin of the MAGA base, Fox doesn’t even know yet how screwed they are....

Kinda funny that the initial Tucker announcement was that he and Fox News “decided to part ways”. That’s white supremacist bowtie wearing Putin loving code for “My ass got fired with 10 minutes not…

23/04/2023

I just finished an hour on my Mom’s piano. It’s a 1967 Chickering Spinet. It was the very first set of keys I ever touched when I was 4 years old. It seems piano has always been a "thing" for us. My cousin, Lina Franklin Ambrose, who herself became a piano teacher, started teaching me shortly after I was walking. …...

I just finished an hour on my Mom’s piano. It’s a 1967 Chickering Spinet. It was the very first set of keys I ever touched when I was 4 years old. It seems piano has always been a “thing& #822…

10/04/2023

Hello Five Stickers, I’ve taken some time off but today I’m on a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Salamanca, Spain back to a Viking River Cruise ship, and I’m processing visiting my first European cathedral. And I have time on my hands and thoughts in my mind and heart… So here goes. Upon arriving here, I couldn’t help but notice the beauty of the stone buildings all built in a uniform shade of gold....

Hello Five Stickers, I’ve taken some time off but today I’m on a 2 1/2 hour bus ride from Salamanca, Spain back to a Viking River Cruise ship, and I’m processing visiting my first European cathedra…

Five Stick Friday